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Jake Stokes

Thomas Tuchel set to lose 'outstanding' Cobham ace as top clubs plot Chelsea defender swoop

Chelsea defender Jake Clarke-Salter has attracted the attention of several top-flight sides ahead the upcoming transfer window. Leeds United and PSV are interested in securing the 24-year-old's services this summer, according to the MailOnline.

The Cobham graduate has impressed on loan at Coventry City this season, featuring 29 times for the Sky Blues in the Championship. The Sun claim that Clarke-Salter is also being monitored by the reigning champions of Belgium Club Brugge.

He made his senior debut for the Blues in 2016 and has been loaned out by the west Londoners on six occasions, with spells at Bristol Rovers, Sunderland, Vitesse and Birmingham City. Despite having endured an injury-ridden campaign the season before last, Clarke-Salter has bounced back from adversity to hand Thomas Tuchel a dilemma ahead of the summer.

READ MORE: Thomas Tuchel can sign Chelsea's own Virgil van Dijk if Todd Boehly beats Barcelona to £30m deal

The defender is one of three centre-backs set to become a free agent at the end of the season and depart Stamford Bridge, along with Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen. The latter duo are reportedly set to set sail for Spain and join Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively.

While Clarke-Salter is of a lower profile, the wealth of top-flight interest is a testament to his development, having once been Chelsea's undisputed captain at the academy. Our sister site Coventry Live reports that the west Londoners do have a pre-arranged option for a further 12 months on his contract.

But, in March, according to Gianluca Di Marzio journalist Nathan Gissing, Coventry have already tried to tie down the former England under-21 captain's future. It's believed that the Championship side offered Clarke-Salter a three-year deal as part of a free transfer in a bid to get an early foot in the door.

The three-time FA Youth Cup winner and two-time UEFA Youth League Champion has been 'outstanding' for the Sky Blues, according to Coventry boss Mark Robins. He said: "Jake has had one or two issues with injury now and again. When he's played, he's been absolutely outstanding."

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